Package filling machine



March 25, 1952 FENNO 2,590,817

PACKAGE FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 13, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 la/IIIII/IIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIW ll I'L INVENTOR J 055? E. FENNO ATTO R N EY March 25, 1952 J. E. FENNO PACKAGE FILLING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 13, 1947 DJ a INVENTOR U JOSEPH E. FENNO I -l BY I ATTO R N EY Patented Mar. 25, 1952 PACKAGE FILLING MACHINE Joseph E. Fenno, Rutherford, N. J.,.assignor to Stuyvesant Engineering Company, Lyndhurst,

Application February 13, 1947, Serial No. 728,363

5 Claims.

This invention relates to package filling machines and is more particularly directed to machines for packaging material such as frozen peas,

beans and corn, popped corn, edible nuts, dehydrated foods, seeds, powders, candies, crystals, etc. Such material is herein termed fluent material.

The invention generally comprises improvements in package filling machines of the type illustrated in Patent #1144569, but except as recited in the appendant claims the invention is not limited thereto. Such machines comprise a conical hopper or reservoir for holding the bulk material or product to be discharged later from the machine. By gravity and/or With the aid of agitation within the hopper, the product drops into each of the four measures consecutively; these measures being mounted under and telescoping around tubular projections in the intermittently rotated top dial or table, the measures becoming filled as they dwell beneath the hopper mouth. A bottom stationary dial or table serves as a closure for the bottoms of the tubular measures to hold the product therein until the measure, due to the intermittent movement of the top dial, reaches the front of the machine where a circular opening in the lower stationary dial permits the product to discharge through a spout into a container held there by the operator. The operator continues to apply empty containers to the discharge spout, removing them as they are filled. During the rotation of the top dial, a round brush encircling the hopper mouth partially levels the product in each measure as it leaves the hopper mouth, and just before discharging, it is again leveled, but more accurately, by means of a straight brush. Surplus product remaining on the top dial is prevented from spilling over the periphery of the dial by means of a band fixed to this periphery, this surplus product being swept back into the empty measures, as the latter leave their discharging position, by means of a V-shaped brush arrangement.

An object of the invention comprises the provision of a novel and improved package-filling machine which will quickly and accurately deliver measured quantities of material into a suitable container in which they may be sold. To suit the operator, the machine isarranged to provide any suitable filling speed and the point of discharge of the product from the machine is vertically adjustable.

' A further object of the invention comprises an arrangement whereby the turning force rotating the measures is applied at their both ends whereas in the prior art machines the turning force is only applied at one end of the measures. This feature of the invention permits the use of unusually tall measures without any danger of their tipping and inaccurately registering with the discharge spout.

Another object of the invention comprises the provision of an arrangement whereby, during operation of the machine, surplus material is removed from the entire surface of the rotating measure holding dial so that the product cannot collect and remain to decompose on portions of this surface. To this end the straight brushes scraping the upper surface of the rotatable measure holding dial are mounted for vertical, hori zontal and radial adjustment. In addition a V-shaped brush arrangement, for returning surplus material to the measures, comprises two independently supported brushes disposed so that they are separated at the apex of their V-shaped disposition. This opening at the apex of the V prevents material from accumulating and backing up from this point as will hereinafter become more evident.

Still further objects of. the invention comprise the provision of a novel and single arrangement permitting quick and easy adjustment of the volumetric capacity of the measures. In addition there is provided a novelmechanism for drivably connecting the rotatable measure holding table to its driving motor whereby overrun of the dial is prevented and whereby the dial automatically returns to its proper position should the operator inadvertently move the table out of its proper position relative to its driving motor.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from reading the annexed detailed description in connection with the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section of a volumetric package-filling machine embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a sideelevation partly in section of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view illustrating an adapter secured to the stationary dial and supporting a smaller discharge spout in order to accommodate smaller diameter measures;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the machine and particularly illustrating the hopper, the intermittent rotary measure holding dial, the measures, the measure holding spider and the bottomstationary dial and its supporting structure; v

Figures 5 and 6 are views respectively taken along lines 5-5 and 6-6 of figure 4;

Figures 7 and 8 are views respectively taken along lines 1-4 and 8-8 of Figure 5;

Figures 9, 10 and 11 are views respectively taken along lines 9-9, Ill-l0 and ll-ll of Figure 4;

Figure 12 is a top view partly in section of the mechanism for obtaining the intermittent movement of the measure holding table;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary end view of the intermittently driven disc; and

Figure 14 is a vertical view partly in section of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 12.

Referring now to the drawing, a package-filling machine generally indicated by reference numeral l0, comprises a pedestal l2 on which the machine is supported. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 the pedestal comprises three integrally cast legs with an upwardly projecting neck bored out to slidably receive the tubular machine column I4. A clamping screw ltserves to hold the .column 14 in any position of verticaladjustment.

The entire machine is supported from the column 14. Thus at the upper end of the column H! a bracket [8 supports a hopper 20. One end of the bracket [8 encircles and is secured to the hopper and its other end is provided with a boredout projection 22 within Which the upper end of the column I4 is slidably received. A locking disc 24 rests on the upper end of column l4 within the projection 22- and this disc is provided with a downwardly extending lug 26 fitted within a slot in the top of the column I4. A wing-screw 28 extends through the top of the bracket projection 22 and its lower end engages a conical depression in the upper side of the locking disc 24. Accordingly, to raise or lower the hopper (for example to accommodate different kinds of products or fluent material) the wing-screw 28 is turned in the proper direction and at the same time the engagement of the lug 26 in a slot in the column I4 and the engagement of the bottom of the screw 28 in its conical depression-holds the hopper 26 in its correct radial position about the column l4. At the same time this construction permits the hopper 20 to be swung out of the way merely by first raising the hopper and its bracket slightly so that the screw 28 clears the conical depression in the disc 24.

A second bracket 36 encircles the lower-end of the column i4, this bracket resting on the upper end of the pedestal l2. The outer end of the bracket 30 is provided with a hexagonal socket in which a hexagonal nut 32 rests. A vertical jack screw 34 has its lower end threaded through the nut 32 and extends through the bracket 30 with its upper end received within a blind hole-in the underside of a housing 36. The housing 36 encloses the gear drive mechanism and is fixedly secured to the column I4 by set screws 38'. In addition a star-shaped knob 46 is secured to the jack screw 34. With this construction by loosening the clamping screw l6 and by turning the knob 46 in the proper direction the column l4 and therefore the entire machine may be raised or lowered to suit the natural position of the operator.

A shaft 42 extending upwardly from the housing 36 is arranged to be intermittently driven by the mechanism therein as hereinafter described. A dial or table 44 is fixed to the upper end of the shaft 42 by a fillister head cap screw 46, the dial or table being arranged for rotation 'under the discharge opening of the hopper 26. The dial or table 44 is provided with four similar holes 46 peripheral band 50-to the central shaft 42.

The underside of the table 44 is provided with four tubular projections 52 registering with the holes-48 and secured to the table 44. These tubular projections telescope into the upper ends of tubes 54, the bottom ends of which nest slidably in tubular openings in a spider 56. The under side'of the spider 56 is provided with four annular grooves each concentric-with one of the tubes 54 and a felt ring 58 is disposed in each of said grooves. The felt rings 58 contact the upper surface of a stationary dial or table 60 in order to eliminate undue wear, objectionable scraping noise, and seepage of the fluent material which would result if metal to metal contact were provided between the spider 56 and bottom dial or table 60.

The tubular projections 52 and their associated tubes 54 are herein termed measures. Driving torque is applied to the upper ends of the measures from the rotatable table 44 and to the lower ends of the measures from the spider 56 which is drivably connected to the shaft 42 by a pin 62 and a split bracket 64. The bracket 64 is clamped about the shaft 42 and the pin 62 is fixed to the bracket and extends into a hole in the spider 56. Thisconstruction permits the use of tall measures without danger of their tipping as is the case where the turning force is only applied to one end of the measures.

The. stationary dial or table 60 is pivotally connected at its outer periphery to a bracket 66 by a pivot pin 68. The bracket 66 extends to and partially encircles the column l4 and is provided with two spaced vertically disposed pads 10 having cylindrical surfaces contacting one side of the column l4 as best seen in Figure 6. The pads '10 together with a wing screw 12' engage the opposite sides of the column M, to clamp the bracket 66- securely and squarely relative to the column I4 so that the bottom table 60 will always be horizontal. Pivot pin 68 is offset relative to the centers of shaft 42 and column [4, thus permitting bracket 66 to swivel on the pivot pin and thereby compensate for any variation in the distance between the mentioned centers for the various vertical positions of bracket 66.

The bottom table 60 is vertically supported on the shaft 42 by means of split brackets 14 and I6 clamped to the shaft 42 below the table 60. The brackets 14 and 16 are securely clamped about the shaft 42 by screws 78 and 86 respectively. These brackets are securedtogether for relative axial adjustmentbyaknurled finger screw 82. The bottom table Gil-is supported from the upper bracket 14 through a ball bearing 84 as illustrated. By loosening the clamping screw 18 of the bracket 74 and the wing screw 12 the knurled finger screw 82 may be turned to accurately adjust the bottom table 60 vertically in order to collapse or extend the measures as required to provide for their proper volumetric capacity. After this adjustment has been effected the clamping screw '18 and wing screw 12 are-retightened. In the event the capacity of the measures is to be changed a relatively large amount, the wing screw I2 and both clamping screws 18 and 88 are loosened and then the bottom table 88 is slid approximately to the desired position at which point the clamping screw 88 is tightened. Then accurate vertical adjustment of the bottom table 88 is obtained by the knurled screw 82 as previously described.

The aforedescribed support for the bottom table 88 permits quick and simple vertical adjustment of this table. In addition, the clamping pressure of the table supporting members 14 and I6 is doubled as compared to machines employing a threaded vertical shaft in place of the shaft 42 with a split threaded clamp on the shaft for supporting the bottom table.

A tapered discharge spout 86 is fixed to the under surface of the bottom table 88 by a flat ring 88 contacting the underside of the peripheral flange 98 formed around the top of the spout 86, the ring 88 being secured to the table 88 by nuts 92 engagin studs 94 fixed in the bottom table 88 and extending through the ring 88. As illustrated the'discharge spout 88 registers with the hole 98 in the stationary or bottom plate 68 disposed diametrically opposite to the discharge opening of the hopper 28. Obviously spouts 88 of different sizes and shapes may be provided to suit the container being filled. As illustrated in Figure 3 a smaller spout 98 may be used to suit smaller diameter measures. For this purpose an adapter I88 is attached about the discharge hole in the stationary or bottom table 88 by means of finger nuts I82 engaging studs fixed to this table.

A brush holding arm I84 disposed over the rotatable table 44 has a tubular boss I08 fitted about the column I4, the boss I88 and its arm I84 being supported by the head of a screw I88 fixed to said column I4. In addition the boss I88 is provided with a wing screw II8 for securing the arm I84 against rotation during machine operation. The portion of the arm I84 disposed over the table 44 is provided with three brush holders I I2 each having ahead I I3 slotted to receive one of three straight brushes I I4, I I8 and II 8 having their bristles extending downwardly toward the table 44. A knurled nut I28, threaded on each holder H2 is arranged to be tightened down against its associated brush H4, H8 or II8 to hold its brush in any position of longitudinal adjustment. That is by loosening its nut I28 any of the brushes H4, H8 or II8 may be moved to any desired longitudinal position relative to its holder II2. In addition the holders II2 are adjustable vertically and rotatively by means of wing nuts I22 and hexagonal nuts I24.

With this brush support construction any vertical, longitudinal or radial position of each of the three brushes II4, I I8 and H8 is readily obtainable. This latter feature is particularly desirable in order that the brushes may be adjusted to accommodate different products. Thus where the fluent product or material is of a coarse nature such as pop-corn and frozen lima beans a high adjustment of the brushes is then essential to avoid sweeping the product out of the measures. Also as illustrated the brushes 4 and II 8 have a V-shaped disposition with the brushes separated at the apex of the V for reasons hereinafter described. The above described brush support construction also permits the en tire set of brushes II4, II 8 and H8 with their supporting arm I84 to be swung bodily up and away from the top table, for example for permitting removal of this table, the measure tubes 54 and/or the spider 58 for cleaning or for changing to diiferent size measure tubes 54.

As best seen in Figure '7 the brush supporting arm I84 also serves as a journal for the upper end of shaft 42 by virtue of its fit about the round head of the shaft screw 48. This provision of a journal at the upper end of the shaft 42 permits the use of longer measures without objectionable wobbling of the top or rotatable table 44.

In addition to the straight brushes II4, II8 and H8, there is provided a round brush holder I28 encircling the discharge end of the hopper. The brush holder I28 comprises a split ring clamped about the outside of the discharge end of the hopper 28 with the .brush bristles extending downwardly toward the table 44. With this construction the round brush I 28 may readily be vertically adjusted along the discharge end of the hopper 28 to suit the particular fluent material to be packaged.

As hereinafter described the shaft 42 with the table 44 and its measures is rotated clockwise (Figure 5) in intermittent quarter turn steps so that at the end of each step one measure dwells under the discharge openin of the hopper 28 and at the same time the diametrically opposed measure registers with the discharge spout 88. In describing the operation of the machine it is only necessary to consider a single measure since each measure has the same cyclic operation with the adjacent measures being one quarter of a turn out of phase. Thus consider a measure under the discharge opening of the hopper 28, as the measure dwells in this position it is filled with material from the hopper. Then a quarter turn is imparted to the table 44 and spider 58, and during the accompanying quarter turn motion of the measure being considered, the brushes I28 and II 8 scrape the excess material therefrom. The next quarter turn brings this latter measure in registry with the discharge spout 88 whereupon the measure empties. In the next quarter turn the V-disposed brushes II 4 and H8 scrape surplus material from the top of the table or dial 44 into the now empty measure. Because of the separation of the brushes I I4 and H8 at the apex of their V-shaped disposition some surplus material on the top of the table 44 may pass therethrough but in the next quarter turn of the measure under consideration this surplus material is scraped into this measure by the round brush I26 and at the same time this measure is brought back under the hopper 28 for refilling. The purpose of this separation of the brushes II4v and H8 at the apex of their V- shaped disposition is to prevent surplus material on the top of the table 44 from backing up from these brushes sufficiently far to discharge into the measure over the discharge spout 88 and thereby destroying the accuracy of the quantity of material discharged. 7

At this point it should be noted that the brushes H4 and H8 extend to the inner and outer edges respectively, of the top surface of the dial 44 whereby during machine operation this entire surface is continually being scraped of surplus material. Also although the brushes H4, H8, H8 and I28 have been illustrated and described as bristle-type brushes it should be obvious that other types of scraping means could be substituted. Therefore the word brush as used in the appended claims is intended to be broad enough to cover such equivalent scraping means. I

Iv Referring now in particular to Figures 12-14., the-housing 36 together with a main cover I30 and a weight I32 completely enclose the mechanism for imparting intermittent motion to the shaft 42 to which the rotatable table 44, spider 5.6 and measures are drivably connected. Preferably this entire mechanism runs in a bath of oil to insure its long life. As previously mentioned this housing 36 is secured to the column I4 by set screws 38. Two rods I34 and I36, anchored securely in the rear of the housing 36, provide a support for .a suitable prime mover or motor I38 which is mounted on a base I40. One rod I34 is 'slidable through two axially positioned bosses I42 integral with and under the base I40 and the other rod I36 is slidable through one boss I44 also integral with andpositioned under the base I40. A wing screw I46 engages a threaded hole in a boss I48 also integral with and disposed under the base I40, this screw imparting clamping pressure, through a slidable pin I50, against the rod I34 at a point between the two bosses I42. In this way by loosening wing screw I46 the motor I38 may be adjusted along both rods I34 and I 3'6 to produce the desired tension in V-belts I50 and I52 enclosed by a belt guard I54. The wing screw I46 is then tightened to fix the position of the motor.

Interposed between the motor I38 and a pulley I56 on the housing 36 is a variable speed pulley assembly comprising a hub I58 having a pair of spaced and facing conical flanges I60 and I62 formed thereon. A ring I64, slidably disposed on the hub I58 is provided with conical ends facing said conical flanges to form two V-shaped grooves therebetween, within which the V-belts I50 and I52 are engaged. The V-belt I50 provides a drive from the motor I38 to said pulley assembly which in turn is connected to the pulley I56 by the V-belt I52. The pulley assembly is slidably and rotatably mounted on a horizontal shaft I66 carried by a bracket I68 movable along the rods I34 and I36. The bracket I68 is adjustable axially along the rods I34 and I36 by two wing nuts I and I12 which engage the threaded portion of a rod I16 fixed to the housing 36.

With this construction of the pulley assembly, a progressive increase or decrease in the rotary speed of the driven pulley I56 is obtained by moving the pulley assembly bracket I68 to the left or right; respectively (Figure 12), by adjustment of the wing nuts I10 and I12.

The pulley I56 is secured to a jaw clutch member I-I-8 which in turn is slidable on a shaft I80. The projecting lugs on the jaw clutch member I18 are arranged to engage and disengage similar lugs on a jaw clutch member I82 fixed to the shaft I80. The jaw clutch members I18 and I82 are held apart or out of engagement by a coil spring I84 interposed therebetween. A hand lever I86 is pivoted about the shaft I80 between the housing 36 and a thrust bearing I88. In addition the side of the hub of the lever I86 facing the housing 36 is provided with three shallow conical recesses within each of which a ball I90 carried by the housing 36 is received. The arrangement is such that when the handle lever I86 is rotated to the position in which the balls I80 are at the bottom of their associated conical recesses, the spring I84 is effective to separate the jaw clutch members I18 and I82. However when the handle lever I66 is rotated from this position the balls I90 force the lever I86 downwardly (Figure 12) against the thrust bearing quarter turn to the disc 2I0.

I88 thereby compressing the spring I84 and enforcing engagement of the jaws. of the clutch members H8 and I82 and drivably connecting the pulley "I56 to the shaft I80. As hereinafter described the shaft I is connected to the shaft 42 for driving the top table 44 and measures whereby the handle lever I86 provides a readily operable means for stopping the machine.

A semi-spherical and flanged cap I92 covering the jaw clutch members I18 and I82 is secured to the outer face of the pulley I56. The cap I92 is packed with heavy grease which thorourghly lubricates the entire clutch mechanism together with the .hub of the pulley I56. A suitable felt packing I94 is provided to prevent leakage of the lubricant.

The shaft I 80 is journaled in the housing 36 in oil-absorbing bushings I96 fixed to the housing. Oil seals I98 prevent leakage of oil outside the housing along the shaft I80. A worm 200, fixed to the shaft I80 engages a worm wheel 202 journaled .on a vertical shaft 204.

The rim of the worm wheel 202 is provided with .four vertically slidable pins 206 disposed immediately below the weight I32, the pins 206 being engageable with the sides of ribs 208 which are integrally formed on the upper surface of a disc H0. The disc 2I0 is secured to the shaft 42 whereby rotation of the disc causes a corresponding rotation of the measure holding table 44 and its measures.

As viewed in Figure 12 the worm wheel 202 rotates in a counter clockwise direction. As a pin 206 engages a side of one of the ribs 208 the disc 2I0 is rotated in a clockwise direction just one quarter of a revolution. This motion is followed by a dwell until the next pin 206 engages the corresponding side face of the next rib 208, at which time this second pin imparts another This action continues thereby imparting a regular intermittent movement to the measure holding table 44, spider 56 and the measures carried thereby.

Four pins 206 are illustrated in Figure 12 and these, when the variable speed pulley is adjusted to its furthest position away from the motor I36, produce the maximum speed of the measure holding table 44, thereby providing the maximum number of product discharges per minute of which the machine is capable. Should this discharge rate be too high for the ability of the operator to apply the containers to the discharge spout, the bracket I68 is adjusted toward the motor I30 in a manner already described. If, when the bracket is adjusted to its furthest position toward the motor, the discharge rate is still too high, the bracket is adjusted to its furthest position away from the motor I38, the weight I32 is removed by hand and two diametrically opposite pins 206 are lifted from their holes in the worm wheel 202 and placed on the top of the wheel web for future use. The remaining two pins 206 will reduce the rate of discharge by onehalf its previous rate, and if this again is too high, bracket I68 is adjusted toward the motor I38. If after adjusting the bracket I68 to its furthest position toward the motor or prime mover I38 the rate is still too high, the bracket is adjusted to its furthest position away from the motor I38 and one pin 206 is removed from its hole in the worm wheel and placed with the other two idle pins. This again will reduce the rate of discharge by one-half its previous rate, and if the rate is still too high, the bracket is moved toward the motor to its furthest posi-- tion, which position provide the minimum number of product discharges per minute of which the machine is capable. By combining the variable speed pulley drive with the pin drive, any exact predetermined number of discharges per minute is quickly available within the maximum and minimum speeds.

The intermittent drive or Geneva-type action provided by the pins 206 and ribs 208 provide a relatively slow motion of the disc H at the beginning and end of each intermittent movement, thus eliminating the impact or shock loads which would be imposed on the gear train and motor if the disc 2I0 were started and stopped quickly. This is in contradistinction to machines which do not incorporate the Geneva-type action and therefor impart an extremely rapid and uniform rotary speed to the measure holding dial during each intermittent movement, thus producing the undesirable impact at the starting and stopping points.

Half-cone frustums 2I2 (Figure 13) opposite each rib 208 of the disc 2| 0 provide a positive guide on both sides of the driving pin 206 near and at the very end of each intermittent movement, thus preventing overrun of the top table 44, at this time, due to the dials momentum particularly when operated near or at the highest speed. Furthermore, the conical surface 2I4 of the half-cone frustums preclude any possibility of the pins jamming since these surfaces will cause the pins to lift automatically against the weight I32 in the event the disc 2I0 is inadvertently thrown out of index by the operators carelessness. Thus if the pins 206 are out of register with the grooves between the ribs 208 and the flat sides of the frustums 2 I2, the driving pin 206 will ride over the top of one of the half-cone frustums and drop into the associated groove formed by the flat side of its half-cone frustum and the side of the adjacent rib 208 in the disk, the pressure for the return of the pin being provided by the weight I32, thereby re-indexing the pins automatically. This same action also occurs in the event the disc 2 I0 is out of index and a pin 206 contacts the end of a rib 208, the angular end 2; of the rib lifting the pin 206 which rides over the top of the rib and is forced down again in its normal operating position by the weight I32. The great advantage of the halfcone frustums 2I2 is that a much higher rate of discharge can be obtained because the dial cannot overrun.

In order to agitate the fluent material within the hopper, a tubular housing 220 illustrated in Figure 1 is supported within and at the upper end of the hopper 20 by a bracket 222. A flexible shaft 226, having one end secured to the worm shaft I80 by a locking sleeve 228 extends up to the hopper, then through the housing 220 and down into the material within the hopper. The end of the flexible shaft 226 within the hopper is bent, as illustrated, whereby rotation of this shaft serves to agitate the material within the hopper. Bushings 230 in each end of the housing 220 serve as bearings for the flexible shaft 226 and collars 232 fixed to the shaft 226 serve to hold it in correct relationship relative to the hopper 20. The shaft 226 has a quarter turn bend 234 adjacent to the hopper and a quarter turn bend 236 adjacent to the housing 36. These quarter turn bends of the shaft 226 permit vertical adjustment of the hopper 20 without over-stressing of the flexible shaft 226 since the shaft will flex at these bends. An added advantage of the agitator within the hopper.

By connecting the flexible shaft agitator 226 to the worm shaft I80 it is possible to vary the relative speed of the measure holding table 44 and that of the agitator. Thus with the pulley assembly bracket I68 set to its leftward limiting position (Figure 12) for maximum output speed and with only one pin 206 in the worm wheel 202, the speed of the agitator shaft 226 is a maximum relative to that of the measure holding table 44. Conversely with the pulley assembly set to its rightward limiting position for minimum output speed and with four pins 206 in position in the worm wheel 202, the speed of the agitator shaft 226 is a minimum relative to that of the measure holding table 44. In this way the magnitude of the agitation within the hopper 20 relative to the speed of the measure holding table 44 may be adjusted in accordance with the fluent characteristics of the material being packaged.

The aforedescribed machine can be readily adapted to use with or in connection with other types of applicable equipment such as mechanism for automatically applying empty containers and removing the filled containers, and conveying them to any desired location for further processing or processing during the conveying period.

While I have described my invention in detail in its present preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after understanding my invention, that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. I aim in the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes.

I claim as my invention:

1. A package filling machine comprising a horizontal rotatable table, a plurality of measures rotatable with said table and opening to the upper surface of said table, a hopper disposed above said table with a discharge opening disposed above the path of movement of said measures such that fluent material in said hopper is adapted to flow through said opening to successively fill up said measures as they pass under said opening, and a pair of elongate brushes disposed horizontally over said table for scraping surplus material therefrom, said brushes having a V-shaped disposition with one of said brushes extending inwardly from the outer edge of said table and in its direction of rotation while the other of said brushes extends outwardly from the center of said table and in its direction of rotation, said brushes being spaced apart at the apex of their V-shaped disposition and being disposed relative to said discharge opening so as to scrape surplus material from the top surface of said table into said measures while they are empty.

2. A package filling machine comprising a horizontal rotatable table, a plurality of measures rotatable with said table and opening to the upper surface of said table, a hopper disposed above said table with a discharge opening above the path of movement of said measures such that fluent material in said hopper is adapted to flow through said opening to successively fill up said measures as they pass under said opening, a stationary table over which the lower ends of said measures move, said latter table having an opening' in the path of movement of said measures and through which said measures discharge their fluentmaterial, and a pair of elongate brushes disposed horizontally over said table for scraping surplus material therefrom, said brushes having a v-shaped disposition with one of said brushes extending inwardly from the outer edge of said table and in its direction of rotation while the other of said brushes extends outwardly from the center of said table and in its direction of rotation, said brushes being spaced apart at the apex of their V-shaped disposition and being disposed relative to said discharge openings so .as to scrape surplus material from the top surrotatable with said table and opening to the upper surface of said table, a hopper disposed above said table with a discharge opening above the path of movement of said measures such that fluent material in said hopper is adapted to flow through said opening to successively fill up said measures as they pass under said opening, a-stationary table over which the lower ends of said measures move, said latter table having an opening in the'path of movement of said measuresand through which said measures discharge their fluent material, a pair of elongate brushes disposed horizontally over said table for scraping surplus material therefrom, said brushes having a V-shaped disposition with one of said brushes extending inwardly from the outer edge of said table and :in its direction of rotation while the other of said brushes extends outwardly from the center-of said table and in its direction of irotation said brushes being spaced apart at the apex of their V-shaped disposition and being disposed relative to said discharge openings so as to scrape surplus material from the top surface of said table into said measures while they are empty, and a brush encircling said hopper discharge opening for scraping surplus material from said measures and for returning surplus material on the upper surface of said table to empty measures.

4. A package filling machine comprising a vertical member, power means carried by said member, a horizontal rotatable table disposed to one side of said member, a shaft drivably connecting said table to said power means, a plurality of measures rotatable with said table and opening to the upper surface of said table, a hopper disposed above said table and having a discharge opening disposed above the path of movement of said measures such that fluent material in said hopper is adapted to flow through said opening to successively fill up said measures as they pass under said opening, means supporting said hopper from said vertical member for pivotal movement about a vertical axis offset from the axis of said table, a brush holder carried above said table, and means supporting said brush holder from said vertical member for pivotal movement about a vertical axis offset from the axis of said table.

5. A package'fillingmachine comprising a horizontalrotatable table, a plurality of measures rotatable with said table and opening to the upper surface of said table, a hopper disposed above said table with a discharge opening disposed above the path of movement of said measures such that fluent material in said hopper is adapted to 'fiow through said opening to sucessively fill up said measures as they pass under said opening, power means, and means providing an intermittent driving connection between said power means and said table such that said meansures successively dwell under said hopper discharge opening, said last-mentioned means comprising a pair of horizontal rotatable discs having spaced but parallel axes, one of said discs having a plurality of substantially radial and circumferentially spaced ridges, the other of said discs having one or more pins extending downwardly therethrough for intermittent engagement with said ridges, and a vertically slidable Weight disposed above said pins and urged downwardly toward said :pinsonly by its own weight.

JOSEPH E. FENNO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 31,530 Cluxton Feb. 26, 1861 1,457,038 Laneuetial May 29, 1923 1,778,216 Hansen Oct. 14, 193.0 2,037,555 1 .Jwoyer Apr. 14, 1936 2,144,569 ,Frazier Jan. 17, 1939 2,158,767 1 Ayars May 16, 1939 

